Hydroponics and Indoor Gardening

A presentation by
Mel Sikes

Natural Resource Education

Specialist
Hydroponics Definition

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in

water without soil.
The water must be enriched with nutrients and the
plants need some type of inert medium to
support the root system.
What is Hydroponic Gardening?

▪ Hydroponics comes from the Greek language,

and it literally means let the water do the work.

▪ "hydro" means "water"

▪ "ponos" means ”work".

Soil-less growing!
growgenius.co.uk/
 Soil-Less Growing?
The essential ingredient is an oxygenated mineral-nutrient water
solution that’s circulated through plants’ roots.

Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks Alaska

 Large Scale Hydroponic Farming
Climate Controlled Agriculture Large scale hydroponic
farming is in use around
the world to grow the
produce that we eat.

Chena Hot Springs

Hydroponics
Anchorage Greens
Small Scale Hydroponic Gardening
Small scale hydroponic gardens can provide us with year-round
food readily available in our homes.

Hydroponic Grow Towers Floating Platform Hydroponics

Advantages – Why Use Hydroponics?
Faster Growth- Hydroponics works by providing a consistent
complete nutrient mixture and water to the roots. Plants
get everything they need all the time, so they do not
waste time or energy growing a lot of roots or searching
for nutrients and can grow faster.

www.vegetablegardener.com/
More Advantages
No Weeds/Reduced Pests- Gardening without soil eliminates the
weeds so you do not need weed sprays. Also, because there
are no weeds, there will be no backache from a hoe or rototiller.
Since most pests live and breed in the soil, there’s usually no
need to use pesticides or other toxic pest control chemicals.
Advantages
Great Plant Quality and Taste- Since the plants get everything
it needs, all the time, it will reward you with great taste,
strong and fast growth, and overall plant quality.
 Disadvantages
▪ Large system high energy costs can be prohibitive.
▪ Moisture from systems can cause damage to buildings. Fish
tanks do this also. Can be an advantage too.
▪ Specially formulated, soluble nutrients are needed in most
systems.
▪ Pests and diseases can remain a big risk. Indoor plants can
get aphids which transfer easily.
▪ Some water born diseases can spread rapidly in
recirculation system if not monitored correctly.
 6 Types of Hydroponic Systems

▪ Passive Wick System

▪ Deep Water Culture System – Floating
Platform
▪ Nutrient Film System – Gutter System
▪ Continuous Drip System
▪ Ebb and Flow System
▪ Aeroponic System
 Passive vs. Active
▪ Passive systems (no moving parts) are great for beginning
hydroponics gardeners because they are inexpensive,
portable, and simple to set up.
▪ Active systems employ pumps to move water and deliver
nutrient solutions to plant roots.

vermontpassive.com basichydroponicsystems.files.wordpress.co
m
Passive Wick System
▪ Simple System
▪ No Moving Parts
▪ Nutrient Solution
Delivered with a Wick
▪ Plants may use the
water and nutrients
faster than the wick
can supply it.
 Water Culture Systems

▪ Plants grow on platform with

roots suspended into solution
▪ Air bubbled into nutrient solution
to provide oxygen for roots
▪ Does not work well with some
types of plants or long-term
growing

www.simplyhydro.com/
Simple Water Culture System
Floating Platform Set-up with Fish Tank
Floating Platform System
In a Plastic Storage Tub
 Foam and Plant Pots
• Net cups are perfect for starting seeds, cuttings and are used in
many hydroponic systems.

• Cut the closed cell styrofoam sheet in a rectangle with the measurements
1 inch less than the inside measurement of the aquarium for both the
length and width. This allows for a ½ inch gap between the platform and
the side of the aquarium around the entire perimeter. It is needed so the
platform will float freely and not bind with the sides of the aquarium.

• Cut holes in the foam the size of the net pots.

• Place net pot in hole to make sure that it fits snuggly

 Air Pump
Oxygen is vital to root development!
Set up your air pump, line and air stone in the
bottom of the aquarium or tank.
 Nutrient Film Technique Systems -NFT

▪ Most popular.

▪ Also known as gutter

hydroponics.

▪ Nutrient solution washed onto

plant roots.

▪ Reservoir contains nutrient

solution which is pumped
through system using a water
pump.
 Continuous Drip Systems
 Nutrient solution dripped
onto plant from a line either
above the plant or sitting on
the grow medium.
 Water and nutrients in
separate tank pumped
through system.

sdhydroponics.com

forums.gardenweb.com/
 Ebb and Flow systems
▪ Nutrient solution is temporarily
and regularly flooded into
the grow tray using a
submerged pump
connected to a timer.
▪ When the timer is off, the
solution flows back into the
reservoir.
▪ Plants can dry out during
cycles sdhydroponics.com
 Aeroponic systems
▪ Nutrient solution sprayed or
misted onto roots in growing
chambers where roots are
suspended in air.

▪ Used in many grow tower

commercial systems. icangarden.com aerogarden.com

▪ Nutrient solution can be in a

grow chamber or outside.
Aquaponics System
Simple Aquaponics System
with Floating Platform
 Vertical Grow Tower System

▪ Minimal Space
required
▪ NFT System
▪ Easy to build, easy
to get supplies
▪ Easy to maintain

Jake Scott, Chena Hot Springs

Small Hydroponic Grow Tower
Plant Needs – What to Consider When Growing
What is needed for a plant to
survive?

▪ Water
▪ Light
▪ Air
▪ Nutrients
▪ Container and Drainage
▪ Space
 Nutrients
▪ N- Nitrogen for the production
of leaves, stem growth, and
building plant cells.
▪ P – Phosphorus for the
development of flowers, fruits,
and healthy root growth.
▪ K – Potassium for
photosynthesis
 Trace Elements
• Sulphur to heighten the • Boron for unknown reasons.
effectiveness of phosphorus and for
plant energy. • Magnesium for producing
chlorophyll and distributing
• Iron for the production of phosphorous.
chlorophyll.
• Calcium for root growth and
• Manganese for the absorption of the absorption of potassium.
nitrogen and energy transference.
• Chlorine for photosynthesis.
• Zinc for energy transference.
• Molybdenum for assistance in
• Copper for producing chlorophyll. chemical reactions.
Plants – What Should I Grow?
• Lettuce is easiest • Start with seed germination in a tray
• Kale, other leafy before placing into any system.
veggies
• Leafy Herbs • Peat plugs and rock-wool are the most
• Cucumbers popular mediums for germinating seeds.
• Strawberries
• Peppers and Tomatoes • For starting seeds, keep media moist by
(expert, DO NOT START adding water to tray or lightly spraying
with them) from above.
Starting Seedlings
Starting Seedlings on Shelves

The most common mistake in seed starting is having the lights too far from the
plants. 3-4” is best. Use chains or string to raise and lower lights.
 Growing Medium
Medium: substance or material in which something exists or grows, from the
soils and other materials for plant growth.
Rooting Plugs Rock Wool

Common grow
media used in
hydroponic
systems
Hydroclay Stones Vermiculite Perlite
 What is Rockwool?
• Rockwool is made from rock which has
been melted and spun into fibrous
cubes.

• Rockwool is a form of Perlite in which

the pebbles or rocks anchor the plant
down so they don’t just float up above
the water.

• Rockwool is the most popular medium

for germination seeds hydroponically.
Plant Starter Cubes – Rooting Plugs

Made with fine composted sphagnum peat moss

Lighting for Seedlings

Keep lights within 4” of plants or you will get……….. leggy seedlings.

 Different Types of Lighting
1. Fluorescent somewhat energy inefficient, must be
kept close to the plants. Not the best option but in
a pinch they will work. Even shop lights work fine.

2. LED Lights – Energy efficient, low heat output, long

lasting, low cost. Look for lights that say Plant Light.
Absolutely recommended for optimal successful
growing.

Lights must be kept on a consistent schedule. A timer is a very

good idea. 12 hours on and 12 hours off for leafy greens is optimal.
Lighting for Grow Towers
Lighting for Floating Tank Systems

Constructed using PVC Pipe and Chains

Using a fish tank light
 Sunlight? – Not a good idea
unless you’re growing outside.
▪ You could place plants in direct sun in a
window, but unfortunately that often isn’t
enough for proper growth especially in the
winter/early spring months in Alaska.

▪ It isn’t a good idea to rely just on sunlight

for any kind of indoor gardening because it
causes unusual plant growth. It causes
leggy plants that reach for the sunlight to
survive and waste energy.

▪ Window light is inconsistent.

pandeglang.work
 Maintenance
▪ Monitor Water Levels DAILY!!!! For the tower, look in the hole for the
plug or take the bottom lid off.
▪ Check your pH levels at least once a month to maintain proper
growing environments for your plant.
▪ Watch plants for changes. If leaves turn yellow, adjust/ increase
fertilizer.
▪ Watch for pests.
▪ Keep lights in good working order. Keep clean as possible.
▪ Clean tank/bottom bucket at least once every 3-4 weeks, to keep
algae growth to a minimum.
▪ Keep heat consistent as possible. Don’t put near a window if possible.